Means and method for treating diseases of the teeth and gums



Oct. 30, 1962 R. H. RlDDELL 3,060,935

MEANS AND METHOD FOR TREATING DISEASES OF THE TEETH AND GUMS Filed Dec. 15, 1960 F l G. I

FIG.3

INVENTOR. ROBE/F7 6'. 76/005 @MEQ ATTORNEHS United States Patent 3,069,935 MEANS AND METHGB FOR TREATING DISEASES OF THE TEETH AND GUMS Robert H. Riddell, 3505 W. Henderson, Seattle, Wash. Filed Dec. 15, 1960, Ser. No. 76,072 4 Claims. (Cl. 128-269) This invention is concerned with the treatment or prevention, by a dentist, of various disease conditions by the application to a persons gums and teeth of solutions such as sodium fluoride, stannous fluoride, hydrogen peroxide, or an anti-biotic. Examples of diseases to which application of these and other solutions are specified are dental caries, pyorrhea, gingivitis, and trench mouth. Proper treatment usually requires that the solution be in direct contact with the teeth and gums. While in some instances a comparatively short interval of contact will sutfice, other treatments require that the contact be maintained for intervals of fifteen minutes or more. In either case it is important that no saliva be permitted to dilute the solution. It is furthermore desirable that no appreciable amount of the solution be swallowed by the patient or that the solution come in contact with other surfaces of the mouth.

The present invention provides an advanced means and method of attaining the above ends, consisting in the new method of applying the solution by jacketing the teeth and gums in a bath of such solution and in the novel construction and the adaptation of said jacket for performing the method.

In the accompanying drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a device constructed to embody the preferred teaching of the present invention and showing, somewhat schematically, the appearance of such device when applied to a patients mouth.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of such device; and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view drawn on line 33 of FIG. 2.

The jacket device of the present invention has some what of a crescent shaped plan configuration so as to follow the general contour of the semi-circular borders of a persons jaw-bones (alveolar processes) and has an H shape in cross-section so as to present a respective trough, as and 11, in both the upper and the lower face. It is the function of these troughs to serve as stalls into which a patients upper and lower teeth fit, and the depth of the stalls are suflicient to accommodate the exposed crowns of the teeth as well as the gums which envelop the necks of the teeth.

The jacket is produced with a central sponge-like core 12 exposed top and bottom to the atmosphere but faced about the entire perimeter by a coating 13 composed of a material impermeable to liquid. A tube 14 extends from front to rear through the jacket at a point more or less central to the width, its purpose being to draw saliva from within the mouth. The outer end of the tube projects beyond the front face of the jacket so as to accommodate attachment of a suction hose 15, shown in phantom in FIG. 2.

A material suitable for the core 12 is sponge polyurethane. Foam rubber, latex materials, gelatin and the like could also be employed. For the coating 13, any impermeable material which admits of being made contiguous with the material of the core may be employed. A solid layer of polyurethane would be suitable, as would parafi'in wax, silicone, cellulose, cellophane, latex and various rubber based paints.

In using the jacket device, the solution with which a patients teeth and gums are to be treated is applied to the permeable core, and the device is then introduced Patented Oct. 30, 1962 to the mouth with the teeth occupying the related stalls and the lips drawn over the outer edges. The patient applies a moderate amount of biting pressure which forces the solution from the core into intimate contact with the invested teeth and gums. The time interval during which the jacket device remains in the mouth may be of comparatively short or long duration, according as the condition of the patient and the particular treatment re quires.

Rather than applying suction to the saliva ejector by coupling same to the vacuum in a dentists office, a small syringe or other hand pump, operated by the patient, can be attached in order that the patient will not have to occupy a dental chair While the teeth and gums are being treated. While not shown, a handle may be provided upon the device. The handle would protrude between the lips and would permit easier insertion to and removal from the mouth. The device is perforce made in different sizes to adapt itself to different age groups.

It is here pointed out that the composition of the core could feasibly be such as to itself provide the treatment, being made to dissolve or effervesce in the mouth.

It is believed that the invention will have been clearly understood from the foregoing description. It is my intention that no limitations be implied and that the hereto annexed claims be given the broadest interpretation to which the employed language fairly admits.

What I claim is:

1. The method of treating teeth and gums which comprises completely investing upper and lower teeth and the portions of the gums which envelop the necks thereof in a jacketing sponge permeable to liquid and which is faced about the entire perimeter with a continuous coating impermeable to liquid and with a portion of said investing sponge separating the upper from the lower teeth, the sponge being saturated with a treating solution, and causing the solution to be exuded into intimate contact with the invested teeth and gums by having the patient exert a moderate amount of biting pressure.

2. A jacket for the purpose described comprising a body having a plan configuration generally following the alveolar processes of a patients mouth and presenting in the top and bottom a respective trough arranged and adapted the former to invest the patients upper and the latter the patients lower teeth and gums, said troughs having a spongy facing permeable to liquid, the outer perimeter of the jacket having a coating impermeable to liquid, the upper and lower troughs being separated by a party wall composed of said spongy facing so that biting force exerted by the jaws of a patient to whom the jacket has been applied exudes a treat-ing solution contained by the facing against the teeth and gums with which the facing is in contact.

3. The jacket recited in claim 2 having a tube for removal of saliva extending therethrough from the inner face which is exposed to the interior of the mouth to the outer face which is exposed to the atmosphere.

4. The jacket recited in claim 2 in which the side walls which give to the troughs their plan configuration are continuous so as to close the troughs at each of the two ends.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 767,553 Edgelow Aug. 16, 1904 803,474 Dennis Oct. 31, 1905 1,371,029 Jennings Mar. 8, 1921 1,818,146 Maker Aug. 11, 1931 1,934,688 Ackerman Nov. 14, 1933 2,669,988 Carpenter Feb. 23, 1954 2,884,925 Meynier May 5, 1959 

